Knowing all of someone’s thoughts and feelings, where they are, where they are going, who they are with, what they are doing, what songs they are listening to (and quoting), and any of the other fine details about their life may seem a bit disturbing, like you’re following, stalking, or ‘creeping on’ someone.
To the avid users of the social networking website Twitter, “following” someone has become one of the most addicting and talked about concepts of the year—and in no way is it disturbing.
From checking to see what celebs are up too to simply looking for something to do on the weekends, Twitter gives students at Seaholm the opportunity to stay connected with the people around them.
For senior Calley McMillan, infatuation with Twitter began before many students had even heard about it.
“I’ve had a Twitter for less than a year, but I got one before most people,” Mc- Millan said. “One of the girls I work with got me addicted to it during the summer.”
The convenience of the system gives McMillan incentive to keep using the website.
“I would say that I love Twitter,” Mc- Millan said. “I think it’s really fun and easy to use.”
Senior Joe Denison, who goes by ‘cupajoe99’ on Twitter, thinks the website helps him update his friends on his activities for the day.
“I go on Twitter once a day and post about my life,” Denison said. “You know, if I’m taking a bath or taking a shower. The main reason I tweet is to inform people of what I do during the day.”
This form of connecting with friends gives people the opportunity to say anything, making it easier to get their thoughts across to others.
“I can say whatever I want on Twitter and post it,” Denison said. “I would say I’m addicted to Twitter.”
While some like Denison only go on once a day to post daily activities, others find ways to post many times every day.
“I go on multiple times a day because I have Twitter on my phone,” McMillan said.
Logging on to Twitter more than once a day results in sharing more and more with every new tweet.
“I tweet about three or four times a day,” senior Josh Schaefer said, who goes by ‘Ogochoschaefer’ on the website. “I tweet about where I’m going to eat, where my homeboys at, if I’m stressed out or not.”
Although Twitter plays a large part in Schaefer’s day, he can’t say he has an obsession like many of his peers.
“I’m not addicted like some people,” Schaefer said. “I know a lot of people that their whole life is Twitter. It’s kind of absurd.”
This addiction is part of the reason why senior Lauren Fasang continues to use Twitter.
“Twitter is the most addicting thing that has ever happened to me,” Fasang said. “It helps to see what people are doing everyday so it’s easier to make plans.”
Another feature of Twitter that makes it so captivating is that it allows users who ‘follow’ celebrities, essentially subscribing to their page and being notified of every new tweet.
“It keeps you connected to celebrities,” Schaefer said. “Like I feel like I’m a celebrity when I hear celebrities talk on Twitter.”
This combined with the social aspect of Twitter sets it apart from other social networking websites and means of communication.
“I like that you can see what celebrities are doing and talk to your friends in a different way other than just texting,” McMillan said.
